Harry Potter & Percy Jackson: Dark Waters.

Chapter 28: CH 28



His hands now dry, he turned and gave her a hug. She tensed for a moment, and then hugged him back.

Releasing the goddess, Harry turned back to his sink. "I'm just finishing up the dishes, Artie. I spent a bit more time baking than I expected."

Artie approached. "You were baking?" she asked in confirmation.

Harry nodded enthusiastically. " Yup. It's a surprise." Suddenly, he flipped around, and extended a hand. "So don't touch!" he admonished as the Goddess of the Hunt had been about to open the Tupperware container. For a moment, she looked guilty, before seemingly realizing that she was the goddess and he was the mortal.

Drawing herself up, she was about to reply, when Harry turned back to his dishes. "I'll tell Hestia. And then you won't get any."

Artie froze in indecision, then sighed. "It rankles that a boy is daring to give me orders," she said angrily.

Harry smiled at her over his shoulder. "I'm just asking nicely, Artie. I spent a lot of effort on those, and they're a surprise."

The Goddess of the Hunt eyed him, and Harry felt a bead of sweat pearl down his forehead. Artie could get really angry over the strangest things, and Harry worried that he had done something silly. Maybe he should have just given her the cookies? But then he wouldn't have any for Miss Zoë, who was going to be his new teacher. Hestia had recommended the cookies for her specifically, hadn't she?

"Fine," Artie finally said; her tone was rather cool, Harry thought, but he'd take it. "It's a rare man who dares tell me what to do, and doesn't feel worried about it when I voice my displeasure."

Harry swallowed. "I was worried," he said. "You get really angry sometimes, and I don't want you getting angry. You're still my friend, after all."

Artie was still studying him; her intense silver-grey eyes seemingly string into his very soul. Harry didn't like it much when she stared at hard at him. Her gaze felt heavy.

"Oh?" she finally said.

Harry nodded, drying off the utensils he had just finished rinsing. "Yup. You're awesome, you teach me loads of things, and I like you. So you're my friend. Even if I know I probably "My offer to turn you into a girl still stands," Artie said, grinning. Harry relaxed. Grinning Artie was Friendly Artie. He liked Friendly Artie.

Harry smiled back. "Only if you let me turn back into a boy if I don't like it," he replied.

The Goddess of the Hunt shook her head. "Come on," she said, and started to walk out. Harry grinned, raced to get his box of cookies and his notebook, and finally followed her. Once again, he got to ride in her chariot with those cool golden deer.

They remained silent for the trip, and Harry enjoyed the time flying through the sky, gazing at the ground below.

am not your friend." He looked up from his drying. "Do you want me to keep that quiet in public?"

Artie's gaze seemed to intensify, if that were even possible. "What is it you're asking?" she demanded, a current in her voice that sounded dangerous.

Harry swallowed, and focused on his drying so he didn't have to look at the angrily staring Goddess of the Hunt. "I-I mean," the boy started stammering, then collected himself. "You may not want people to know we get along. So you may want to act like we don't know each other in public."

Artie was quiet, and for the first time, Harry realized why Hestia had called her Artemis instead of Artie in that huge meeting room. Artie was his friend who taught him things. Artemis was the goddess who hated boys and wanted nothing to do with him. He'd have to keep the two separate.

"No," she finally said. "No, I do not need you to keep quiet about our arrangement. There is no need for… discretion. We have a perfectly normal teacher-student relationship. There is no need to hide that fact."

She approached. Harry wasn't watching her, but he felther coming closer. "It is most unusual that you would consider me a friend, especially after recent events."

Harry hesitated, not sure what to say. "You're awesome, Artie," Harry said. "And you're a really good teacher. And I like you. Well – mostly. I don't like it when you get angry at me. But you know what I mean."

Artie studied him closer, and then nodded. "I would not get angry at you if you didn't say stupid boy things."

Harry offered her a tentative smile, looking at her for the first time in a while. "Sorry?" "Thanks, Artie," Harry said, finally climbing out of the chariot himself. "I won't let you down. Hestia told me a bit about what Miss Zoë is like, so I'm sure I'll like her."


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